Comments on: There’s Gold in Them Thar Forums http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/ Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:19:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jack http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-18986 Jack Mon, 24 Apr 2006 10:36:56 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-18986 And for all forum users take a look at this nifty software that will enhance your operations http://kv.iwarp.com/frum And for all forum users take a look at this nifty software that will enhance your operations

http://kv.iwarp.com/frum

]]> By: reviewum.com http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13421 reviewum.com Wed, 01 Feb 2006 21:55:26 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13421 I found someone who had a content site and offered to create a forum based on their content. I started off getting 99% of my traffic from their site, but as content grew I started to get more and more Search Engine traffic. Today my inkjet forum (http:www.nifty-stuff.com/forum ) gets about 80% of it's new user traffic from Search Engines! Regarding bandwidth and diskspace: This really depends on the forum software. Personally, I like forum software with fewer bells and whistles that are more server friendly. Also, you'll begin to find that bandwidth and diskspace are the least of your concerns, but that it begins to be more of an issue of server CPU and RAM usage. I found someone who had a content site and offered to create a forum based on their content. I started off getting 99% of my traffic from their site, but as content grew I started to get more and more Search Engine traffic. Today my inkjet forum (http:www.nifty-stuff.com/forum ) gets about 80% of it’s new user traffic from Search Engines!

Regarding bandwidth and diskspace: This really depends on the forum software. Personally, I like forum software with fewer bells and whistles that are more server friendly. Also, you’ll begin to find that bandwidth and diskspace are the least of your concerns, but that it begins to be more of an issue of server CPU and RAM usage.

]]> By: RenFromPenn http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13417 RenFromPenn Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:03:02 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13417 How bandwidth and disk space intensive is a forum? When I am just starting out with a forum I couldn't possibly afford a dedicated server if that is required. Can you begin with shared hosting? How bandwidth and disk space intensive is a forum? When I am just starting out with a forum I couldn’t possibly afford a dedicated server if that is required. Can you begin with shared hosting?

]]> By: artcoder http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13356 artcoder Mon, 30 Jan 2006 22:20:04 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13356 Just as a point of curiosity, roughly what percentage of visitors to forums actually go ahead and register? Is it 1 out of 100 unique visitord will sign up? Or More or less? Just as a point of curiosity, roughly what percentage of visitors to forums actually go ahead and register? Is it 1 out of 100 unique visitord will sign up? Or More or less?

]]> By: kgtrip http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13321 kgtrip Mon, 30 Jan 2006 09:32:47 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13321 <blockquote>Sure, you must moderate things and deal with user issues</blockquote> This is my main concern. I'm playing with the thought of opening a forum, however I really concern from the fact it would force me to constantly moderate stuff, as opposite to my content site where I just create & leave it. Furthermore I believe that blogs would be better choice in time consuming prospective than forums, as they require small to none moderation.

Sure, you must moderate things and deal with user issues

This is my main concern. I’m playing with the thought of opening a forum, however I really concern from the fact it would force me to constantly moderate stuff, as opposite to my content site where I just create & leave it. Furthermore I believe that blogs would be better choice in time consuming prospective than forums, as they require small to none moderation.

]]> By: asp_funda http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13250 asp_funda Sat, 28 Jan 2006 06:34:59 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13250 <blockquote>Any particular reason you would advise buying the $160 owned licence for vBulletin over the $85 leased licence ?</blockquote> I think I can answer that. If you really plan on sticking with vB & you are making an investment, then its better to pay a one time $160 fee instead of the yearly $85, since if you want yearly update access you just have to pay $30(I think that's the fee) yearly after 1st year, so in the long run, you save quite a lot. Besides you can sell an owned license, but I don't think you can sell the leased license!! So if you are not the one who's just considering vB & wanna try it out & not sure if you're gonna stick with it, then the leased license might suit you!! A fair number of people do buy a leased license too I think, its not that its never sold!! ;)

Any particular reason you would advise buying the $160 owned licence for vBulletin over the $85 leased licence ?

I think I can answer that. If you really plan on sticking with vB & you are making an investment, then its better to pay a one time $160 fee instead of the yearly $85, since if you want yearly update access you just have to pay $30(I think that’s the fee) yearly after 1st year, so in the long run, you save quite a lot. Besides you can sell an owned license, but I don’t think you can sell the leased license!! So if you are not the one who’s just considering vB & wanna try it out & not sure if you’re gonna stick with it, then the leased license might suit you!! A fair number of people do buy a leased license too I think, its not that its never sold!! ;)

]]> By: mjames http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13245 mjames Sat, 28 Jan 2006 04:45:38 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13245 I have a forum with almost 200,000 posts now. It's over five years old and is just a pleasure to own. Little work for me, I don't even need to participate to sustain its activity (a great feeling), and I can tell people have a pride in it. I use AdSense on it, but also sell announcement post sponsorships and have people sponsor our seasonable contests. The lesson: create a list of guidelines for running it and stick to them. If you persist long enough and continue to steadily grow, you will have an active, sustainable community that requires little intervention on your part. That's the life. I have a forum with almost 200,000 posts now. It’s over five years old and is just a pleasure to own. Little work for me, I don’t even need to participate to sustain its activity (a great feeling), and I can tell people have a pride in it. I use AdSense on it, but also sell announcement post sponsorships and have people sponsor our seasonable contests. The lesson: create a list of guidelines for running it and stick to them. If you persist long enough and continue to steadily grow, you will have an active, sustainable community that requires little intervention on your part. That’s the life.

]]> By: veridicus http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13233 veridicus Fri, 27 Jan 2006 22:37:08 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13233 Lately I'm finding there are almost too many forums for every subject. Sometimes when I look for a good forum to join I get lost going from one to another. I need to join a bunch of them and check each. I'm just concerned it'll become like blogs: millions out there with fewer and fewer gems to be found. Lately I’m finding there are almost too many forums for every subject. Sometimes when I look for a good forum to join I get lost going from one to another. I need to join a bunch of them and check each. I’m just concerned it’ll become like blogs: millions out there with fewer and fewer gems to be found.

]]> By: whitestorm http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13208 whitestorm Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:22:59 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13208 Chris Any particular reason you would advise buying the $160 owned licence for vBulletin over the $85 leased licence ? Chris

Any particular reason you would advise buying the $160 owned licence for vBulletin over the $85 leased licence ?

]]> By: asp_funda http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13202 asp_funda Fri, 27 Jan 2006 17:15:32 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/01/25/theres-gold-in-them-thar-forums/#comment-13202 Chris, phpBB can be just an exception. And I've heard a lot of people say that if you apply regular security updates etc to phpBB, chances of it getting hacked are almost nil. Isn't it just like saying that Linux is better since Windows is infected with viruses & security holes(though the price factor in that case is reverse). On the contrary, I agree that vB is indeed superior, no doubt about it, but usually people starting out with forums & having not made a buck online via any of sites, they are sure gonna hesitate a bit on spending on a vB license. Besides, I've seen it in recent past that it has become sort of a status symbol where people think that if someone forum or something is not running on a commercial software like vB or MT, its just prejudiced as being "cheap" or low grade!! Chris, phpBB can be just an exception. And I’ve heard a lot of people say that if you apply regular security updates etc to phpBB, chances of it getting hacked are almost nil. Isn’t it just like saying that Linux is better since Windows is infected with viruses & security holes(though the price factor in that case is reverse).

On the contrary, I agree that vB is indeed superior, no doubt about it, but usually people starting out with forums & having not made a buck online via any of sites, they are sure gonna hesitate a bit on spending on a vB license.

Besides, I’ve seen it in recent past that it has become sort of a status symbol where people think that if someone forum or something is not running on a commercial software like vB or MT, its just prejudiced as being “cheap” or low grade!!

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